FSU recruit went from can't miss to misfire

DWIGHT COLLINSSTAR-BANNER

Published: Friday, March 28, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 28, 2008 at 6:13 a.m.

Once again, the fickle finger of college recruiting pointed out a blunder.
This time it singled out Fred Rouse.
In case you missed it, or perhaps forgot about him, Rouse was the can't-miss prospect who just missed at his second college since Florida State won the jackpot for his original signature in February 2005.
Every college that has a recruiting budget had offered the silky smooth, 6-foot-3 wide receiver from Tallahassee Lincoln High School and as many as five schools were praying on National Signing Day Eve that Rouse would be able to break free from Tallahassee and start anew in their program.
Noted recruiting analyst Tom Lemming had Rouse listed as his top prospect in Florida, ahead of Miami safety Kenny Phillips, who is waiting only to figure out which of the NFL's 32 teams will make him an instant millionaire next month. Lemming named Rouse the nation's No. 1 prospect at wide receiver.
Rouse's image was so heavy on the radar that not only was he coveted by every top 25 program and those looking to crack the college football top 25, he was considering an attempt to become the first high school player to jump to the NFL. The latter option was pending an outcome of the Maurice Clarett case, which was looking good for underclassmen at that small window in time.
So, as Miami, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Ohio State, among others, waited for Rouse's last-minute announcement, Florida State celebrated when the newest blue-chipper joined the Seminole program.
FSU was hoping for its next Ron Sellers, Fred Biletnikoff, Peter Warrick or Lawrence Dawsey.
The Seminoles would've settled for another Javon Walker, Snoop Minnis or Andre Cooper.
Instead, they got another Randy Moss. ... At least the Randy Moss who showed up for one inactive season at FSU in the mid-1990s.
Rouse made little impact at FSU, unless you count stealing Lorenzo Booker's stereo set-up and its subsequent police report as an impact.
Rouse played in 11 games during his freshman season of 2005, but catches were sparse and there was only one touchdown.
The Booker incident was one of the last issues - of many - that led Bobby Bowden to release Rouse from his scholarship, rendering him a free agent.
Rouse re-emerged with Texas-El Paso, sat out the 2006 season as a transfer, and then caught 25 balls last season with a couple touchdown receptions. Now he's on the way back to Florida, presumedly out of college options unless West Georgia or Division III Rowan step up with an offer.
Former Vanguard star Steve Rhem once started near the top, playing Big Ten ball as a freshman at Minnesota, before tumbling down the NCAA ladder while simultaneously making steps toward maturing. Once his mind was right, however, he busted onto the New Orleans Saints roster for two seasons and put to rest any "what if?" questions that would have plagued him as a 60-year-old.
A dozen years ago, Bowden seemed sickened over the fact that Moss tested positive for marijuana while on probation from an incident that got him kicked from Notre Dame, and was adamant that the Seminoles had no one on their varsity who was as talented as the scout team receiver being groomed for future superstardom.
"He's the best player we've got," Bowden said at that time, when the Seminoles were annually in the middle of the national title hunt. "He's the best player on the practice field."
Moss never made it into a game wearing FSU gear, but of course had a tremendous run at Marshall and has been an incomparable receiver at the NFL level for a decade.
The jury is still out on Rouse.
Because if you can't play for Bowden, the grandfatherly type with a long leash, and you can't play for Mike Price, who just might like being attached to a leash on the wrong night in Pensacola, it's doubtful there's anyone out there willing to put up with your shenanigans.
So the next time you base your February mood on the outcome of your team's recruiting haul, think about Fred Rouse and how addition by subtraction seems to be the prevailing sentiment everywhere he's shown the door.
And consider how many times someone falls through the college cracks, like Jerry Rice or Darrell Green or DeMarcus Ware, then winds up being perhaps the best you've ever seen at their positions.
And remember, even a blue chip represents a gamble.RANDOM THOUGHTS: It seemed funny to me that almost a full week before the recognized opening day of the MLB season, Tampa Bay was already a half-game back of Boston in the AL East standings, but still alphabetically ahead of Toronto. Luckily for the Rays, the Red Sox dropped Game 2 to Oakland in Tokyo and the race is on in the East. ... Funnier still is the fact that the two guys traded for each other - Chris Webber and Penny Hardaway - as a complement to the Shaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic on Draft Night 1993 have been ushered off NBA floors this season after serving for years as motionless husks while Shaq, though no longer Superman, is still playing an important role in Phoenix. ... Anyone who truly thought Tiger Woods would go undefeated throughout 2008 also believes the three most-qualified persons in the country are still in the presidential race. ... Best name in the majors? New York Mets utility outfielder Angel Pagan. No word on if farmhand Lucifer Christian is moving through the system with as much speed and success.Dwight Collins can be reached at 352-867-4146 or dwight.collins@starbanner.com.

Once again, the fickle finger of college recruiting pointed out a blunder.<BR>
This time it singled out Fred Rouse.<BR>
In case you missed it, or perhaps forgot about him, Rouse was the can't-miss prospect who just missed at his second college since Florida State won the jackpot for his original signature in February 2005.<BR>
Every college that has a recruiting budget had offered the silky smooth, 6-foot-3 wide receiver from Tallahassee Lincoln High School and as many as five schools were praying on National Signing Day Eve that Rouse would be able to break free from Tallahassee and start anew in their program.<BR>
Noted recruiting analyst Tom Lemming had Rouse listed as his top prospect in Florida, ahead of Miami safety Kenny Phillips, who is waiting only to figure out which of the NFL's 32 teams will make him an instant millionaire next month. Lemming named Rouse the nation's No. 1 prospect at wide receiver.<BR>
Rouse's image was so heavy on the radar that not only was he coveted by every top 25 program and those looking to crack the college football top 25, he was considering an attempt to become the first high school player to jump to the NFL. The latter option was pending an outcome of the Maurice Clarett case, which was looking good for underclassmen at that small window in time.<BR>
So, as Miami, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Ohio State, among others, waited for Rouse's last-minute announcement, Florida State celebrated when the newest blue-chipper joined the Seminole program.<BR>
FSU was hoping for its next Ron Sellers, Fred Biletnikoff, Peter Warrick or Lawrence Dawsey.<BR>
The Seminoles would've settled for another Javon Walker, Snoop Minnis or Andre Cooper.<BR>
Instead, they got another Randy Moss. ... At least the Randy Moss who showed up for one inactive season at FSU in the mid-1990s.<BR>
Rouse made little impact at FSU, unless you count stealing Lorenzo Booker's stereo set-up and its subsequent police report as an impact.<BR>
Rouse played in 11 games during his freshman season of 2005, but catches were sparse and there was only one touchdown.<BR>
The Booker incident was one of the last issues - of many - that led Bobby Bowden to release Rouse from his scholarship, rendering him a free agent.<BR>
Rouse re-emerged with Texas-El Paso, sat out the 2006 season as a transfer, and then caught 25 balls last season with a couple touchdown receptions. Now he's on the way back to Florida, presumedly out of college options unless West Georgia or Division III Rowan step up with an offer.<BR>
Former Vanguard star Steve Rhem once started near the top, playing Big Ten ball as a freshman at Minnesota, before tumbling down the NCAA ladder while simultaneously making steps toward maturing. Once his mind was right, however, he busted onto the New Orleans Saints roster for two seasons and put to rest any "what if?" questions that would have plagued him as a 60-year-old.<BR>
A dozen years ago, Bowden seemed sickened over the fact that Moss tested positive for marijuana while on probation from an incident that got him kicked from Notre Dame, and was adamant that the Seminoles had no one on their varsity who was as talented as the scout team receiver being groomed for future superstardom.<BR>
"He's the best player we've got," Bowden said at that time, when the Seminoles were annually in the middle of the national title hunt. "He's the best player on the practice field."<BR>
Moss never made it into a game wearing FSU gear, but of course had a tremendous run at Marshall and has been an incomparable receiver at the NFL level for a decade.<BR>
The jury is still out on Rouse.<BR>
Because if you can't play for Bowden, the grandfatherly type with a long leash, and you can't play for Mike Price, who just might like being attached to a leash on the wrong night in Pensacola, it's doubtful there's anyone out there willing to put up with your shenanigans.<BR>
So the next time you base your February mood on the outcome of your team's recruiting haul, think about Fred Rouse and how addition by subtraction seems to be the prevailing sentiment everywhere he's shown the door.<BR>
And consider how many times someone falls through the college cracks, like Jerry Rice or Darrell Green or DeMarcus Ware, then winds up being perhaps the best you've ever seen at their positions.<BR>
And remember, even a blue chip represents a gamble.<BR>
<b>RANDOM THOUGHTS:</b> It seemed funny to me that almost a full week before the recognized opening day of the MLB season, Tampa Bay was already a half-game back of Boston in the AL East standings, but still alphabetically ahead of Toronto. Luckily for the Rays, the Red Sox dropped Game 2 to Oakland in Tokyo and the race is on in the East. ... Funnier still is the fact that the two guys traded for each other - Chris Webber and Penny Hardaway - as a complement to the Shaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic on Draft Night 1993 have been ushered off NBA floors this season after serving for years as motionless husks while Shaq, though no longer Superman, is still playing an important role in Phoenix. ... Anyone who truly thought Tiger Woods would go undefeated throughout 2008 also believes the three most-qualified persons in the country are still in the presidential race. ... Best name in the majors? New York Mets utility outfielder Angel Pagan. No word on if farmhand Lucifer Christian is moving through the system with as much speed and success.<BR>
<i>Dwight Collins can be reached at 352-867-4146 or dwight.collins@starbanner.com.</i>